Nutley resident Pete Isip was recently eliminated from Men's Health Magazine's Next Top Trainer after four months worth of competition.

Isip, a USAW Certified Olympic Strength Coach Level 1 and strength and conditioning coach at Krank Systems came in fourth place in a July 7 online episode following weeks of exercise challenges.

He recently told the Sun that the competition was "fun" and "a good experience."

Back in March, over 180 applicants had submitted a resume, video and attended a Brick Fitness live audition in New York City. Isip, originally from Belleville, was one of eight finalists in the running to star in their own fitness DVD and to become a contributor to Men's Health magazine. The three remaining finalists hail from South Windsor, Conn., New York, NY, and Los Angeles, CA.

"It's just one of those things, it's almost like a goal you almost think you can't achieve," Isip said. "Most people say you can't achieve [it] and to do so is another notch on the belt."

Isip, a former stand-up comedian learned of the contest through a gym member and wowed fitness expert judges David Jack and BJ Gaddour, and Men's Health Fitness Director Adam Campbell during his March audition. He had performed a 2-minute "Krank-It-Up" fitness challenge that modeled proper ways to execute a body weight squat and plank.

Judges told Isip, who, stands at five feet, four inches tall; that he had "good energy, good coaching and that he had practiced and was prepared." One of the judges even stated, "I love this guy."

Throughout the web series, Isip shares struggles as an overweight teen with an eating disorder, and shows how it made him a better and more confident person today. Clips from the series also capture Isip's Nutley home and the Franklin Avenue gym.

Other challenges over the weeks consisted of being a background model for a fitness expert, creating a group fitness class and performing 3 exercises in 2-minutes that demonstrated as many progressions and regressions as possible.

Isip, holds a bachelor's degree from Montclair State University in Human Ecology/Nutrition and has been training for 14 years.

"What inspires me is people at the gym, my family, [and] my wife," he said.